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PRESIDENT CHAP IN' S 

ON 

THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE 



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THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE. 



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DELIVERED BEFORE THE EVANGELICAL SOCIETY 



OF THE 



COLUMBIAN COLLEGE, D. C, 



APRIL 6, 1835, 



BY STEPHEN CHAPIN 



/ 



WASHINGTON; 
Printed by James C. Dunn* 

1835. 






COLUMBIAN COLLEGE, D. C. April 7, 18S5. 
Rev. and dear Sir: 

The undersigned have been appointed a Committee, by the Evangelical So- 
ciety of this College, to tender you their sincere thanks for your very able and 
highly interesting Address, delivered before the Society on the 6th instant, 
and to solicit a copy for publication. In the performance of this duty, we in- 
dulge the pleasing anticipation that you will comply with our request. We 
are anxious to circulate the discourse among the young men of our country, 
who are more particularly concernedin the future welfare of the Church ; and 
we feel confident that a perusal of it will afford as much pleasure and profit as 
we experienced, while listening to its delivery. Accept, dear Sir, an assur- 
ance of our constant prayers for your success in the discharge of the arduous 
duties devolving upon you. 

With sentiments of christian affection, we are, &c. 
WILLIAM CAREY CRANE, 
BENJAMIN F. BRABROOK, 
JOSEPH S. WALTHALL, V Committee. 
FREEMAN G. BROWN, 
ROBERT G. EDWARDS, 
Rev. Dr. Chapin, 

President of Columbian College. 



COLLEGE HILL, D. C. April 14, 1835. 
My young Brethren : 

I comply with your request for a copy, for publication, of the Address, de- 
livered before your Society on the 6th instant. I do so, because you are anxious 
to circulate it among the young men of our country, who are more particular- 
ly concerned in the welfare of the Church. 

Praying that it may be the single purpose of your life to advance the cause 
of truth and righteousness, 

I am, very affectionately, 

Yours, in Christian bonds, 

S. CHAPIN. 



Messrs. Wmi Carey Crane, 
Benj. F. Brabrook, 
Joseph S. Walthall, 
Freeman G. Brown, 
R. G. Edwards,, 



V Committee. 



ADDRESS 



You have, my young brethren, assigned me a difficult sub- 
ject. I will, however, out of a regard to your good, comply 
with your wishes, and address you this evening on the Spirit 
of the Age. By this we are to understand that moral habit, 
which so generally prevails at a given time, as to distinguish 
it from every other period. One epoch has been called the 
golden age, because in it the people were free, enjoying a per- 
petual season of blooming and fruit, and cultivated the spirit 
of peace and harmony. Another, the silver age, because it 
was licentious and wicked. Another, the brazen age, because 
it was violent, savage, and bloody. Another the heroic age, 
because its wars were conducted by national laws, and their 
evils greatly mitigated by civilization. And another, the iron 
age, because in it justice and honor had forsaken the earth. 
And we may add that, in modern times, one period is called 
the classic age, because itwas distinguished by taste for study- 
ing the models of fine writing in the Greek and Roman litera- 
ture. Another, the age of chivalry, because men were then 
distinguished for their heroic exploits in defending life and 
honor. And another, the age of discovery, because the suc- 
cess of Columbus in finding this new world, roused all Eu- 
rope to go out in search of new regions of golden mines. 
Thus different moral habits, which have prevailed at different 
times, have divided history into separate ages, each bearing a 
name descriptive of its specific character. 

What, then, is that leading feature, which now, in common, 
belongs to Pagans, Mahometans, Jews, Catholics, and Pro- 



testants. In reply, I would say, that the history of all these 
communities has produced a general expectation among them, 
that some great change in human affairs is fast approaching. 
I am aware that expectation has ever been a powerful spring 
of conduct. The present day, then, is not, in reference to 
this general fact, distinguished by any newness in the princi- 
ple of action. But still, I believe, that it is marked by the 
high degree of expectation which now prevails, respecting 
one common subject. I would, therefore, say, that the pre- 
sent unusually strong expectations concerning some momen- 
tous change in the moral condition of man is, — 
The Spirit of the Age. 
This expectation is excited among Pagans by the decaying 
influence of their religious systems. It is manifest, on a su- 
perficial acquaintance with their history, that they have lost 
their pristine power, and have long been on the wane. Mul- 
titudes have renounced them, as degrading follies, and mul- 
titudes more are equally convinced of their absurdity, but who 
still observe them, out of motives of private or public inter- 
est. Besides, Christianity has, at many points, made power- 
ful attacks on the idolatrous world. The light of revelation 
has shot its beams into her dark dominions, and many of her 
nations have forsaken their temples, and embraced the Gos- 
pel as their only hope. The Bible is already translated into 
the most extensive languages of Pagan countries, and mission- 
aries are going forth, distributing this word of life throughout 
their possessions. And this spreading light is to them a har- 
binger of ruin, as was the presence of the ancient ark of God 
among the Philistines, to Dagon and all his worshippers. 

In the same way, a similar belief has been excited among 
the Mahometans, that some mighty revolution is approaching. 
The time was, when they made rapid strides towards univer- 
sal dominion. But long since, this towering course has ceased, 
to be followed by a descending movement. Compare the pre- 
sent decrepit and shorn condition of the Ottoman Empire 



with what it was, when the formidable Almansor sat on the 
splendid throne of Cordova in Spain, and threatened the 
overthrow of Christendom. ; and you will not wonder that a 
decay, so rapid and extensive, should be viewed as prophetic 
of final dissolution. Ever since the battle of Navarino, and 
even before, Mussulmen themselves acknowledge that their 
power and faith are fast declining, and will soon become ex- 
tinct, unless prevented by some miraculous interposition. But 
these same facts awaken different expectations in the christian 
church. They view them as the fulfilment of ancient pro- 
phecy, making known, that the power of Mahometanism is 
to be gradually weakened by the force of public opinion, and 
thus, at the time of the end, to be broken without hand. 

It is now about twelve hundred years since the Roman re- 
ligion began its sway. By the most artful combinations of 
principles and ceremonies, it has taken a firm hold upon the 
human heart, and become mighty. For many centuries all 
the temporal sovereigns of the world received, at the foot of 
the papal throne, the terms on which they were to hold their 
sceptres. The Pope, in the zenith of his glory, wore his triple 
crown, to indicate his claimed dominion over heaven, earth, 
and hell. But the Reformation, under Luther, hurled him 
from this arrogant summit, and ever since that period his pow- 
er has been gradually declining. "What is the Catholic church 
now in any country within her pale, in speculating Germany, 
in infidel France, and in the priest-ridden Spain, Portugal, 
and Ireland, but a shattered engine, kept in feeble motion by 
artificial stimuli. This decay is so manifest, that it is ac- 
knowledged by their own adherents. But, instead of view- 
ing it as a precursor of speedy death, they view it only as the 
lowest point in the ebb of their history, and that the returning 
tide will soon carry them to higher ground than they have 
ever yet occupied. It is under the expectation, that her youth 
is to be renewed like the eagle's, that the mother of harlots is 
now collecting all her remaining strength, and directing it to 



bear on points, where there is the greatest prospect of success. 
It is under this delusion that she is now pouring out her trea- 
sures, and sending out her troops of well-trained Jesuits and 
Priests, to save civilized heretics from the pains of eternal 
death. Our own country is flooded with her agents, who 
openly avow their purpose to erect a line of churches from 
the Gulf of Mexico to the St. Lawrence, and another, crossing 
it at right angles, extending from the Atlantic to the foot of 
the Rocky Mountains, and thus to save this whole land from 
the doom of heresy by erecting upon it the Catholic cross. 

But how differently is this whole matter viewed by Protes- 
tant believers. Knowing from the word of God, that the man 
of sin is to reign twelve hundred and sixty years, and that we 
now cannot be far from the close of this period, they view all 
the movements in the mystic Babylon, as the struggles of ex- 
piring life. And they already antedate the song of Heaven 
and of the holy apostles and prophets, when God, with vio- 
lence, shall cast down the great city Babylon, that it be found 
no more at all, and with prophetic eye they see the pure church 
rise upon her ruins in endless perspective. 

If we turn our attention to the Jews, we shall find that they 
also are indulging stronger hopes than ever, that the time of 
their dispersion will soon close. For nearly eighteen hundred 
years, they have been scattered to the four winds of heaven. 
But their own scriptures lead them to believe that they are soon 
to be gathered, and restored to their ancient land, where they 
are to become the principal agents in spreading the Gospel 
among those Gentiles, who have not heard the fame, nor seen 
the glory of God. 

If we look abroad over the political community, we shall 
find that now, more than at any former time, it is agitated by 
strong expectations. The privileged ranks and adherents to 
legitimacy, are looking with intense anxiety to the movements 
of the friends of reform. They fear that the thrones, which 
they are so anxious to guard, will be overturned by the mighty 



heavings of free principles. Hence, their unholy alliances to 
resist a shock, which they know they must feel, but cannot 
endure while standing alone. On the other hand, those who 
maintain that man is capable of self-government, know that 
they have to struggle with formidable enemies. They know 
that a great portion of wealth, and rank, and talent, is array- 
ed against them — that, to carry their point, they must demol- 
ish, or greatly modify, systems, venerable for antiquity, and 
which, by their imposing forms, and occasional munificence, 
have taken fast hold of the 1 ower orders of men . They know, 
too, that each of the parties are fighting under a deep con- 
viction, that they have a mighty stake at issue — on the one 
hand, the secured succession to all the splendors of royalty ; 
and, on the other, the undisputed possession of all the bless- 
ings of civil freedom. How, then, can it be otherwise, than 
that they should be strongly agitated with the alternate sway 
of hopes and fears. 

In taking this brief survey, we must not overlook the state 
of that portion of the human race, which have formed them- 
selves into an atheistic kingdom. They, too, have their high 
expectations. With them, every species of religion is the re- 
sult of human weakness and folly. Overlooking, as they do, 
the unobtrusive character of pure Christianity, and looking 
abroad upon the antiquated state of all the corrupted forms of 
religion, they flatter themselves, that the darkness of supersti- 
tion will soon pass away, and that idols and altars will be 
viewed as the toys of infancy in the human family, and that, 
in all coming time, the generations of men shall be free from 
the burden of feeding a crafty and tyrannical priesthood. 

Nor will we entirely forget the scientific world. So im- 
portant have been the discoveries in chemistry, and in almost 
every branch of physics—so rapid have been the improve- 
ments in machinery — so great the spirit of enterprise in con- 
structing canals, railways, and ships ; and so wonderful has 
been the increase of skill in fabricating the conveniences of 



8 

life, and in forcing the earth to yield her full strength for the 
support of man, that they are delighting themselves with the 
belief that the drudgery of the hands is to be mostly transfer- 
red to physical agents, that distance is to be virtually annihi- 
lated, so that the most remote nations are to be brought into 
convenient neighborhood, to enjoy together that plenty and 
leisure, which will constitute another golden age. 

Thus, my friends, I have shown that the present state of the 
world has produced a general expectation, that some great 
change is about to take place in its moral condition. But you 
wish to gain a knowledge of what is the spirit of the age, for 
a nobler purpose than to gratify a vain curiosity. You wish 
to learn what are its distinguishing moral traits, that you may 
thereby know how to prepare yourselves to serve God in your 
generation, and what are your peculiar encouragements for 
action. You have seen that the expectations, which now 
prevail, are of no ordinary character — they respect great good 
or great evil — changes of the highest moment, in reference 
both to the present and future world. On the one hand, 
hoary systems are about to be broken up — systems, which, for 
ages, have exerted a mighty influence over the destinies of 
man ; and on the other, the kingdom of Christ is to make ra- 
pid advances until it attains universal dominion. Most of the 
present forms of government, are corrupt and oppressive, pre- 
senting strong barriers against the prevalence of civil free- 
dom, and the diffusion of Christianity. What then will be 
the consequences of that radical reform, which they must 
soon undergo. Public opinion, respecting free principles, is 
daily gathering fresh strength from the lights of experience 
and revelation, and will never cease in its march, until the 
arm of every oppressor is broken — till every despotic sover- 
eign is either hurled from his throne, or converted into a nurs- 
ing father in the church of God, and the whole power of the 
magistracy be chiefly concerned to advance the triumphs of 
the cross. These changes, whether civil or sacred, are near 



at. hand. Who can estimate what will be their results. What 
a deep feeling, then, ought they to awaken. How are they 
viewed by the inhabitants of glory. They hail the return of 
the Jews as life from the dead. At the destruction of idola- 
try, the Holy Spirit represents the whole inanimate world in 
raptures of praise, hills breaking forth into singing, and the 
trees of the field clapping their hands. And, at the downfal 
of papacy, the same Spirit calls on them to exult, saying, Re- 
joice over her, thou heavens, and ye holy apostles and pro- 
phets, for God hath avenged you on her. 

But it is more important to inquire, what are the duties cf 
believers in view of these approaching changes. 

They ought to prepare themselves for corresponding ac- 
tion. The church, above every other community, is under 
special obligations to render these changes productive of the 
greatest good. What other body is expected to collect the 
scattered remnants of Jacob, and to labor, to the utmost, to 
save the breaking up hosts of Gentiles and Mahometans. 
Now, above every former period, ought the work of evangel- 
izing the world to be conducted on an extensive plan. 

She ought to consider herself as a general missionary soci- 
ety. The Son of God, during his stay on earth, was a mis- 
sionary, and His Father has promised that he shall not fail 
nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment, or mercy in the 
earth. He constituted the church for missionary purposes — 
to be the chief instrument in preparing laborers to preach the 
gospel to every creature. Hence he compared it to a light, 
lighted, not for her private benefit, but to enlighten the world ; 
and to salt, imparted, not simply for her own preservation, 
but for the purpose of redeeming the earth from moral cor- 
ruption. Until the church entertains this view of the design 
of her existence, and cherishes a deep and practical convic- 
tion of her obligation to act up to this design, the work of con- 
verting the world will make but slow advances — a work which 
should be the object of all her labors, and charities, and prayers. 
2 



10 

But feeling this object as the high purpose of her being, she 
would form a society, that nothing could confine — she would 
be perpetually breaking forth, on the right hand and on the 
left, enlarging the place of her tent, and stretching forth the 
curtains of her habitation, until she enclose every Gentile 
kingdom. 

The church ought now to possess, in an eminent degree, 
the power of holy zeal in the cause of missions. The work 
which she has to, perform is, at once, the greatest and most 
difficult ever assigned to mortals. The field is the world, now 
worse than a vast waste. It is full of the habitations of cru- 
elty. But as bad as it is, it must be turned into a blooming 
paradise. And now, every thing in the word and Providence 
of God, in the state of the church and world, indicates that 
this work must soon be accomplished. But to do it, will re- 
quire zeal of the highest character. In human affairs, nothing 
great is achieved without enthusiastic ardor. It is so in reli- 
gious matters. The zeal of God gave up his Son to die for a 
lost world, and the zeal of the Lord of Hosts is pledged to se- 
cure to Christ the heathen for his inheritance, and the utter- 
most parts of the earth for his possession. The zeal of the 
apostles spread the gospel over the Roman empire. The zeal 
of Luther broke the power of the Pontiff, and gave existence 
to the Protestant world. And the church now must possess 
a similar degree of zeal, before she will gain her millennial 
rest. To gain this, will make such high demands upon in- 
terest, upon courage, and personal services, that she will never 
seek it, unless she is urged to it by a quenchless zeal. With- 
out this, her charities will be scanty, her prayers faint, and 
her labors inconstant. It is comparatively easy to give our 
gold, our counsels, yea, and our bodies, and our formal prayers, 
too, to advance this work ; but a hard thing to give to it our 
whole soul. We act, I fear, too much on the principle that 
if the church will contribute, liberally, and give up her sons 
and daughters to make known the Saviour's love in distant 



i 



11 

nations, all will be well — that those whom she has sent abroad, 
will, every where, plant the standard of the cross, and make 
the wilderness as Eden, while she, at home, enjoys her re- 
pose, and is indifferent about, possessing, in her own bosom, 
the power of religion. But this is a serious mistake. A luke- 
warm church will never plant missionary colonies, that will 
be zealous, or flourish to any great extent. If the heart be 
faint, the pulse must be feeble at the extremities. Zion must 
lift up her voice, she must never rest, but travail in birth for 
a world that lieth in sin, before Christ be formed within them 
the hope of glory. 

Besides, there is now special need of union in council, and 
of resources in missionary efforts. The field for harvest is 
broader and whiter than ever. But the church is only a lit- 
tle flock, when compared with the unconverted world. Her 
strength, then, ought not to be diminished by diversions to 
things comparatively of little moment. I am not here plead- 
ing, that the different sections, which now compose the visible 
kingdom of God, should give up their distinguishing forms. 
These they may retain, and yet be united in conquering a 
common enemy. The ancient tribes of Israel were marshal- 
led under different banners, yet they had but one object in 
view — the conquest of Canaan, and their different standards 
indicated the approach of but one host. Hence the dukes of 
Edom were amazed, and sorrow took hold on the inhabitants 
of Palestine. So, let the disciples of Christ be united in their 
spiritual warfare, then, though they may choose to form them- 
selves into different companies, still they would be viewed as one 
combined force, and their discriminating flags would be regard- 
ed alike, as the signals of a united onset on the empire of dark- 
ness. The chief burden of our Saviour's memorable prayer 
to his Father, was that the apostles and all believers might be 
brought into a perfect unity of faith and of object ; and the 
reason he assigned for his importunity was, that such a union 
would convince the world of the truth of his own legation, 



12 

and that they were the objects of his Father's Jove. And 
were the disciples of Christ now united in their prayers and 
labors to save a lost world, this, above every other argument, 
would convince unbelievers of the power and the Divine ori- 
gin of the gospel. It is not enough, however, for Christians 
to be united and zealous in this great work. 

But they now, more than ever, need a great increase of 
spiritual wisdom. It is, at all times, a work of great difficul- 
ty to convert individuals and communities from false sys- 
tems of morality to the pure religion of the Bible. But this 
work they will have to carry on in a period of great changes 
and commotions. The sea, on which they are embarked, is 
stormy and full of counter currents. Hence they must have 
far higher skill, than what is demanded to navigate, amid the 
ordinary dangers of the ocean. The bodies of men, which 
have long been swayed by false theories, are not to become 
extinct. But the spirit of their creed is to expire soon, and 
leave these great masses of population without any principle 
of union. These facts will present new difficulties to the 
missionary, and render his labors more severe, and, in some 
respects, more uncertain. How much heavenly wisdom, then, 
will the Church need to win over the scattered elements of 
these broken up communities to the kingdom of Christ? be- 
fore they have time to sink down into the death of atheism, 
or to reconstruct themselves into some new, and still more 
corrupting forms of worship. 

In what I have hitherto said in the application of this sub- 
ject, I have had reference to the Church in general. But in 
conclusion, it is my duty to say something, specially applica- 
ble to the members of the Evangelical Society in this Col- 
lege. Your object in attending to the services of this evening, 
is that you may know and feel, more fully than ever, what 
are the peculiar duties, which you owe to the present genera- 
tion. I have been much gratified in witnessing the interest, 
which, from your first formation, you have continued to mani- 



13 

fest in the missionary cause. I was particularly pleased, when 
invited to address you at this monthly concert, because I in- 
dulged the hope, that I might be enabled to say something, 
that would be useful to you in your after life. What duties, 
then, does the present crisis in general history demand of you 
individually ? In answer, I would say, 

1. You need a deep and practical conviction, that the 
great changes, which you now anticipate, and which are near 
at hand, are doubtless intended by God himself to open be- 
fore you a wider door of usefulness in spreading the gospel. 
The waters of the mystic Euphrates are to be dried up, that 
the way of the kings of the East may be prepared. The 
overthrow of Babylon is designed to accelerate the flight of 
the mystic angel, having the everlasting gospel to preach un- 
to them, that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and 
kindred, and tongue, and people ; and the destruction of the 
armies of antichrist in the valley of Jehosaphat, is intended 
to give a new impulse to the missionary enterprise. Those 
who escape it, God will convert into heralds of the cross, to 
declare his glory among all heathen nations. And such will 
be their success in winning souls to Christ, that they will 
put in requisition every mode of conveyance to bring them 
for an offering unto the Lord, out of all nations, upon hor- 
ses, and in chariots, and on litters, and on mules, and upon 
swift beasts, to the holy mountain Jerusalem. We are not 
certain, that the heretic, when convinced of his error, will, 
therefore, be ready to embrace the truth. But when we see, 
that pagans are now casting away their idols to the moles and 
to the bats, that Turks are abandoning their Koran, or hold- 
ing it with a wavering faith, and the Jews turning their faces 
toward their ancient land, holding themselves in readiness to 
return, and looking out for some great change in their favor, 
we, certainly, have higher reasons to hope for success in at- 
tempts to spread the gospel among them, than we should 
have, if we now saw them adhering to their respective formu- 



14 

laries with increasing veneration. The General chooses for 
the time of onset, when he knows, that his enemy are either 
faint or divided, or are losing their confidence in the goodness 
of the cause for which they took up arms. 

2. You ought to have a deep conviction, that it is your 
duty to devote your life to the missionary service. If you 
have read your Bibles aright, you have learned, that it is the 
duty of the whole Church to consider herself as a missionary 
body, and that it should be the grand object of all her efforts 
to spread the spiritual blessings, which she enjoys among the 
destitute nations. If this be true of the whole Church, it must 
be so of each particular member. It is not now left optional 
with you to say, whether you will enter this work or not. — 
God has settled this duty upon you, and you cannot cast it 
off. For this you were called into being — for this you have 
been converted — for this you are enriched with gifts and 
graces — and for this, your life is continued. So that it is left 
for you simply to say, whether you will perform this duty, or 
run the hazard of neglecting it. The only question in which 
you may have any choice in this matter, respects the place, 
where you will perform your missionary service — whether in 
the bosom of the Church, or among those who are perishing 
for lack of vision. The decision of this question, is not so 
material, as you may fancy. It is only to determine, whether 
you will hold the rope, or descend upon it into the pit of sin 
and wretchedness. And those who hold it with all their 
strength above, may have to toil and suffer as much as those 
do, who labor below. Carey, when he left his brethren in 
Europe, said " I will descend the rope, if you who stay above, 
will hold it." They engaged to do so. And in doing it, 
Pearce, and Fuller, and Hall, and others, wore out their lives 
at home, sooner than did their brethren, whom they support- 
ed in distant fields. It you have good reasons to believe you 
can accelerate this work most by preparing agents for it, you 
will stay at home ; but if you feel yourselves qualified to serve 



15 

it in the dark places of the earth, you will hasten to yottr 
foreign field of labor. Let it, then, settle down in your hearts, 
my brethren, that you are missionaries, and that you must 
remain so, or rebel against your Maker. From henceforth 
the world is to be your field, and you are never to cease to la- 
bor upon it, Until you are taken from it by death, or see it 
converted into the garden of the Lord. 

3. You need a great increase of that faith, which is the 
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 
The promises, respecting the universal triumphs of the gos- 
pel, are many and emphatic. Take up the sacred volume, 
and you will find something in almost every page, respecting 
the future enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom. Indeed, 
so full is it on this subject, that the Holy Ghost hath said, that 
the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever 
the prophets strike the joyful harp of Zion, we hear the songs 
of millennial glory. He, Christ, shall have dominion also 
from sea to sea, and from the river unto the end of the earth. 
They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him — the 
kings of Tarshish shall bring presents, the kings of Sheba 
and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down be- 
fore him, and nations shall serve him. All nations shall call 
him blessed. For, from the rising of the sun even unto the 
going down of the same, my name shall be great among the 
Gentiles ; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my 
name, and a pure offering ; for my name shall be great among 
the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. For the gods, that have 
not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish 
from the earth, and from under these heavens. Now, faith 
in these promises will change them into the quickening nour- 
ishment of the soul, and prompt it to act with a zeal and a 
constancy, proportioned to the infinite value of the good to 
be obtained. But to you, they will never become springs of 
action, if your faith in them be feeble and inconstant. A 
sword may as well rust out in its scabbard, as to be given to 



16 

a soldier, who has no confidence in the elasticity of its 
strength, or the keenness of its edge. 

Besides, the evils which yon are to relieve, and the blessings 
which you are to impart, are not the objects of sense, but are 
alike invisible and distant. It is in the far west of our own 
country, on the gloomy shores of Africa, or on the distant 
plains of Hindostan and Burmah, that Moloch now reigns 
over degraded millions, torturing his subjects with cruel rites, 
and daily consigning them by hundreds and by thousands to 
an inglorious grave, and to the pit of endless burnings. But 
as all this wretchedness and death are felt, many thousand 
miles distant, we are but little affected by them. We enjoy 
our repose, and neither weep nor feel the throb of anguish 
over these remote regions of misery and ruin. Ah! my 
brethren, how much do we need that strong faith, which would 
bring around our feet, this remote scene of sin and death. 
How much do we need the living faith, which animated the 
Apostles and primitive believers. When they had received 
the Spirit at Pentacost, they left their upper chamber, where 
they had prayed and sung together with holy delight, and 
went forth as missionaries of the most High. They display- 
ed the banner of truth, they blew the great trumpet of the 
gospel, and it was heard afar off. Arrayed in gospel armor, 
they abjured the world, and in the name of Christ, waged war 
with the powers of darkness ; and their weapons were mighty 
to the pulling down of strong holds. The world fell before 
such combattants, and its pomps and vanities, its riches and 
honors, its science and learning, its arts and arms, its poten- 
tates and gods, were subdued by the doctrine of the cross. — 
Let Christendom now be animated by the same spirit, and 
go forth in the strength of their Redeemer, and how long would 
it be, before the great voices in heaven would say, The king- 
doms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and 
of his Christ ; and He shall reign forever and ever. 

My brethren, how responsible is your present station. God 



17 

has brought you upon the stage of action at a time, more in- 
teresting and eventful, perhaps, than has been any past, or 
will be any future period in the history of the world. Cer- 
tainly the Church cannot be far from her millennial reign. 
To this conclusion we are led, both from the present attitude 
of the world, and the light of prophecy. I know that pro- 
phetic language is obscure and hard to be understood. In- 
deed, to answer its end, it must not be so plain as to abridge 
the freedom of the impenitent, and yet sufficiently clear to 
guide and comfort the people of God in all their duties and 
sufferings. The Scriptures have clearly revealed to us, that 
the man of sin is to exist only twelve hundred and sixty 
years, and that his overthrow, and that of the false prophet, 
will nearly synchronise. But they have not thus revealed to 
us the exact date of his origin. Hence it is difficult to deter- 
mine, precisely, when his reign will expire. But we know 
that these powers have long existed, and that, upon every 
principle of calculation, they have far passed their zenith. — 
For several hundred years, they have been on the decay, and 
they must soon be overthrown, and, on that event, the full- 
ness of the Gentiles will come in. The long promised rest 
of the Church, then, must be near at hand, and fast approach- 
ing. Before the young men of this generation, scenes are 
opening, which, more than any preceding, are deeply to af- 
fect the history of man in all coming time. The day cannot 
be far distant, when the Lord will consume the beast and the 
false prophet with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with 
the brightness of his coming — when he will utterly abolish 
every idol under heaven — when he will convert and gather 
into his kingdom the outcasts of Israel, the descendants of 
Abraham. For God, within comparatively but few years, 
has shed down upon his people, in an unexampled degree, 
the spirit of missions. He has prompted them to put in ope- 
ration a train of the most appropriate and powerful means to 
regenerate the world. These he will certainly bless, far be- 
3 



18 

yond our highest anticipations. He has graciously promised, 
that the richest effusions of the Holy Ghost shall rest upon 
the Church in the days, immediately preceding her long and 
triumphant reign upon the earth. Now there are only scat- 
tering drops, compared with this plentiful shower. Now the 
Church is slowly increased by separate and individual con- 
versions. Then, a nation will be born in a day. " Then the 
wilderness will become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field 
be counted for a forest: then all the powers of nature, all the 
resources of Providence, all the advantages that are possessed 
by men in every variety and state, will jointly contribute to 
aid the general triumph. The multitude of camels shall 
come up; the dromedaries of Midian and Ephali: all they 
from Sheba shall come ; they shall bring gold and incense, 
and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord. Kings 
shall offer their gifts, and the majesty of all earthly sover- 
eigns will bow to the majesty of the Saviour. All the spoils 
of earthly grandeur will be laid at his feet, and none will be 
exalted in that day, but the Lord and his Messiah." These 
are the scenes fast opening before us. Yes, my young breth- 
ren, you may live to see more than their incipient dawning. 
Certainly you will have much to do in hastening their accom- 
plishment. Are you, then, prepared to enter upon them? 
Have they come up before you, in all their overwhelming 
consequences? To act such an exalted part in the day, when 
God shall arise to shake terribly the earth, you need, more 
than any preceding race of Christians, the high qualities of 
holy courage, Christian fortitude, self-denial, and the spirit of 
prayer. The Scriptures fully apprise us, that the time, which 
shall introduce the millennium, is to be a season of unexam- 
pled suffering and peril. Are you, then, let me repeat, pre- 
pared for action? Are you prepared to enter on this momen- 
tous and closing drama of time? Have you that courage, 
which no dangers can appal— that enthusiastic devotedness 
to your work, which would lead you to sacrifice every earth- 



19 

ly interest to advance it? Are your desires so intense to 
spread the good news, that Christ died to save sinners ; that 
in doing it, you are ready, if need be, to meet martyrdom in 
its most frightful forms? Have you that faith and fervor in 
prayer, which will bring down for your help the Holy 
Ghost, and retain him for your aid — that agent, which 
alone must give life to your soul, and make all your labors 
triumphant. Privileged young men, I almost envy you 
your station and your prospects. Long after your fathers 
are sleeping in the dust, you are to be employed in a work, 
pre-eminently fitted to ennoble the mind and assimilate it to 
God. Go then, and count not your lives dear to your- 
selves to make known, among the most barbarous nations, the 
love of Jesus ; and may you win many a poor pagan to satis- 
fy the travail of the Redeemer's soul, and enrich his crown 
of glory. 






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